What is a GOAL?  It is the end toward which effort is directed, or the destination you want to reach.

A goal without a plan (the means) is just a wish.  If you want your wishes granted look for a genie in a magic lamp, ’cause that’s the only way you will get your wishes.

Albert Eistein said, ““You MUST learn the rules of the game. And then you MUST play better than anyone else.”  Whether in your finances, your relationships, or your family… learn what works, then practice doing it until it becomes a habit.  Only a stupid person continues to do something that does not work in hopes that eventually it will start working.  (An example, I see so many young ladies using their body to attract a guy then wonder why he is only interested in one thing.  DUH!  It may work, but it does not get the desired result… so stop it, it will never attract the right kind of guy.)

So what kind of goals should we set, well you start by setting SMART goals.

S – Specific (or Significant)
M- Measurable (or Meaningful)
A – Attainable (or Action-Oriented)
R – Relevant (or Rewarding)
T – Time-Bound (or Trackable)

Let me give you an example to evaluate.  “I want to be debt free.”

It is… Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Relevant
It is not… Time-Bound (When do I want to be debt-free?)

A better goal would be, “I want to be debt free within 36 months with the exception of my mortgage.”

It is more specific (all except mortgage), and Measurable & Time-Bound (within 36 months).

Here are some more to give you a better understanding of how to use this to set better goals.

• “I want to have a better family life.”  would become “I want to spend at least 5 hours each week doing things with my kids.”
• “I want to work on my spiritual life.” would become “I want to spend at least 30 minutes a day talking to my Lord (prayer), and listening to the Lord (reading the word and meditating on it) every day.”
• “I want to get a better job.” would become “I will update my resume’ and begin mailing it to companies that need someone with my skills.”
• “I will go back to school” would become “I will enroll in school by the fall of 2012 with the goal of graduating with a bachelors degree in 8 years by taking 6 credit hours per semester.”

I believe you get the point.  As we approach the end of 2011 and the holidays let me encourage you to begin to think about and put in writing some goals for yourself.  Make this the FIRST day of the rest of your life, and commit that your future will be BETTER than your past.

Dave